Headingley And Radlett Contrasts

Worcestershire Rapids 172 for 9 

lost to Yorkshire Vikings 175 for 3 (18.1 overs) 

by 7 wickets 

T20 Blast North Group 

Wednesday 25 May 2022 

Played at Headingley 

Glamorgan 168 all out (20 overs) 

lost to Middlesex 172 for 6 (19 overs) 

by 4 wickets 

T20 Blast South Group 

Sunday 29 May 2022 

Played at Radlett 

A brief period of T20 at VERY contrasting Headingley & Radlett. I deffo wasn't T20 match fit. I've got a long concentration span. Not a short one. Quick chat to your mates. Trip to the loo. Visit to the bar (Radlett ONLY). A lot has happened on the field.

"What have I missed?"

 I still have this feeling that it's basically make 14 off the last over to win. But, for the Carrier Bag Firm, it's about the occasion, not the action.

For the Headingley game, we were able to warm up in;

Kirkstall Brewery

100 Kirkstall Rd, Leeds LS3 1HJ

I'll be honest, when we first pitched up, I think we were the only drinkers who didn't work for the Brewery. Seven of their own on Cask. Eight of their own on Keg. Great choice.

Kirkstall Brewery, English Bitter on Cask at 3.8%

I think that's part of the "Revival Series". Bringing back traditional styles and older recipes. Well. I have to say that was glorious. In superb condition. Excellent balance. Some biscuits. And more bitter than I expected. Beats "standard" oversweet English Bitters hands down.

Kirkstall Brewery, Judicious, Hazy New England Pale on Keg at 4.8%

Lots of flavour in that one. Just the right amount of juice. Chewy without being gloopy.

Understandably, we're not getting fucking involved with the beer offering inside Headingley. Still some corporate shit in paper (paper) cups.

Radlett has a nice pavilion bar. Very well organised with queueing lanes. Happy to serve the ale in a glass if you were staying in the bar. We were front & centre on the rope in a wicker chair. So it was plastic for us. The offering was all keg. Fuller's London Pride (on Keg) & industrial lager. But, I went;

Fuller's Brewery, Frontier Lager on Keg at 4.5%

Perfectly decent. Suited the occasion and the mood.

Yorkshire won with 11 balls to spare. Root & Brook still there at the end. Brook's 60 off just 27 balls the key. Lyth had also house on fired early on. With 40 off 24. In real time, it felt like The Pears were going to post a mahoosive score. Jack Haynes was gone for 61 at 123 for 3 on 12 overs. But even in the Bun Fight, wickets change games. They went from 142 for 3 in the 16th to 172 for 9. Jordan Thompson conceded a wild 22 off his first. But finished with 3 for 35. That emphasises the roller coastering. Just seven off the first two overs. 63 off the next four!!!

In the second game, Middlesex left arm twirler Thilan Walallawita took 3 for 18 as Glamorgan were all out on the last ball of the innings. Toby R-J cleaning the tail with an impressive 4 for 22. Joe Cracknell (47) and Max Holden (41) doing the good stuff in the chase.

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We've Reached Patchwork Quilt

Yorkshire Vikings 224 for 3 

beat 

Northamptonshire Steelbacks 142 all out (19.3 Overs) 

by 82 runs 

Blast T20 North Group 

Saturday 26 June 2021 

Played at Headingley 

Spanking win from Yorkshire, as we reach the Patchwork Quilt phase of the T20 campaign. With Rashid, Root, Bairstow, Malan & Willey away on England duty in one capacity or another. And Kohler-Cadmore & Fraine bust, in one capacity or another. Yorkshire have decided to draft in Mark Stoneman, who can't get in Surrey's White Ball team. Franchise Cricket is already living amongst us. Newbie Mark has walloped 50 off 31 balls, with 10 fours. A 79 run second wicket stand with man of the moment Jordan Thompson. Those, Stoneman my son, along with two catches an' all, are that'll do nicely for a patchwork quilt numbers.

Jordan Thompson is on top at the mo'. Tonight, another T20 best. Promoted up t'order to bat at three. A crushing 7 sixes. Some of them (I swear) still rising as they went over the boundary. Thommo was third gone at 166 - with 27 balls still remaining. His fifty came off (as it happens) 27 balls. And his new personal T20 ridic best was 74 off 35 balls. An unbroken 58 stand between Brook & Ballance pushed Yorkshire into the far distance. I mean, doesn't always happen, indeed "never happens", but that top 5 has clicked there.

The Steelbackers actually made a good starting fist of what looked a daunter. 46 for one. 60 for two. 74 for three off 8.1 overs. But, Dom Bess pulled it back, snaffling Nabi & Parnell. Eventually returning his T20 career best - 4 overs, 3 for 17 - outstanding. Wickets falling consistently, and those from the Hampton Norths were never back in it.

In a cricket format I often dub - make 14 off the last over - Northants had to make eighty fucking eight. Didn't…...

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Chasing The Tallawahs

Yorkshire Vikings 191 for 5 

beat 

Worcestershire Rapids 179 for 5 

by 12 runs 

Blast T20 North Group 

Wednesday 23 June 2021 

Played at Headingley 

I don't know if that game proves T20 is the best cricket format in the world. Or the worst. There's always a nagging doubt that it's a bit of a lottery. If one or two of your players come off. And not necessarily your Big Guns. You can get out of situations. And win.

The Pears Dillon Pennington made his bid to be the One Man Show in the third over, his first. Lyth & Tattersall went to his first two balls. And, Gary Ballance for a Duck off the fifth of the over. Leaving Yorkshire on 13 for 3. Joe Root scored just one off four balls faced. And, Pennington had now taken FOUR wickets in 8 balls. 

After 7 overs, Yorkshire were just 22 for 4. Pennington was 3 overs, 2 maidens, four wickets for 3 runs. Harry Brook & George Hill scrabbled around until Hill went at 50 for 5 before the end of the 11th over.

And then. It all fucking changed. All told, 173 runs after the Powerplay, 158 from the last 11 overs. An unbroken stand between Brook & Jordan Thompson of 141 from 56 balls. That's an English T20 record sixth wicket stand. And only bettered once anywhere in the world. (Kennar Lewis and 'dre Russell, 161 for Jamaica Tallawahs against Trinbago Knight Riders at Port-of-Spain in the 2018 Caribbean Premier League).

Harry (83 from 54 with six sixes) & Jordan (66 from 28 with five sixes) both had career bests. 18 runs off the 18th over. 17 runs off the 19th. 2-6-1-6 2-wides 6 1-wide 4 in a 28 run final over from Charlie Morris.

Shell Shocked doesn't cover it. FFS, you've got ten minutes for a piss & to get padded up & make sense of the senseless. Chase 192 to win. Riki Wessels to open. Yes. That Riki Wessels. The one who dropped Brook off Pennington when he'd scored just two. Fair Fucking Play. Riki stood right up. Fourth gone, for 77 off just 45.

But, it looked a tough ask from there - 74 off 33. Yorkshire really controlled it. Fisher, Root, Ferguson, Waite & Bess all went for eight and half (ish) an over or less. The Fish closing it out with a ten run final over. On the night, T20 was the best of formats.

I always get seduced in Tapped Leeds by those bloody beer tanks. Pushes all my buttons. The kettles & tuns & fermentation vessels are all over there, on one side of the room. And the great looking beer tanks are over there, behind the bar. Theoretically, the beer is brewed, put into the tanks & served "directly" into your pint pot. Thing is. Whisper it. Small kit. The beers are always a bit metallic & uninspiring.

Tapped Leeds, Chief, American Pale Ale from the Tank at 4.7%

As predicted. Fairly safe. The sweetness was OK. But it never really went much further.

Unlike. Redemption Brewing Co, Trinity, Golden Ale on Cask at just 3%

Just glorious. Absolutely excellent at 3%. Served in great condition. The head stayed forever, lacing down the glass. Just a hint of "English Bitter" malt throughout. But the floral hops kept it honest. Great beer.

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Horse Bacon Fosters Cardinal

Birmingham Bears 144 for 8 

lost to 

Yorkshire Vikings 147 for 4 (18.3 Overs) 

by 6 Wickets 

Blast T20 North Group 

Thursday 10 June 2021 

Played at Headingley 

What. A. Mad House. Lots of steam being let off in what passes as the Western Terrace in these restricted capacity, socially distanced times. Two pitch invasions (one fully dressed in cricket whites and one Guantanamo Bay prisoner (was it?)). Which, frankly, we could do without. Some fucking joyless sweary chanting. Which, frankly, we could do without. But, fun was had. Our luck of the draw tickets had put us in the lower football stand, next to the Western Terrace. Impossible to zone out the antics from that fielding position.

Socially Distanced Upsides. The gaps meant I could more rigourously identify those dressed fancy. A horse, with the jockeys. Bacon & eggs. Teletubbies (or maybe Shrek) heads. Tins of Fosters. Crusaders (or maybe Cardinals). Aforementioned Guantanamoers.

Socially Distanced Downsides. With the best will in the world, there just aren't enough suppers to get a decent Beer Snake slithering. Although there were many dynamics of the "new drinker" on display. Those bits of cardboard that fold up so you can carry four pints in them have raised the stakes. Basically, if you don't come back from the bar eight pint, double handed you're going to be hounded out of the Bacon & Eggers & Guantanamo Bay will seem like The Ritz in comparison. And, the fun does not require you to drink the beer. Oh no. It's the buying & carrying & the spillage that gets you the kudos.

Anyway. The Carrier Bag Firm are traditionalists. Beer. One at a time. In the pub. With the full intention of getting it down your gullet. To The Arcadia.....

The most intriguing beer was;

Black Isle Brewery, Rolling Palace IV on Keg at 6%. Made in the Scottish Highlands. This one dry hopped with Azacca. A series of the same base beer, dry hopped with a different hop each time. Love owt like that me. But. How the hell has that ended up in a shopfront bar in an Arndale Centre in Leeds? Smells like a jar of pineapple cube sweets. Tasted better first up, than further down. Initial burst was better than the finish. I'm officially undecided.

Outstanding Beer Of The Day

Pentrich Brewing Co, Highly Evolved, Pale Ale on Keg at 4.8%. That one certainly looked the ticket. Tongue tingling hop action. All about the fruit juice. Spangles. Great beer.

So. Some of the Big Lads allowed out at Headingley. Rashid. Bairstow. Overseas Lockie Ferguson. To add to Malan & Willey etc. Obvs, the pick of the bowlers was a Little Lad. Jordan Thompson three for 23. Taking wickets was the key. Six runs for two off the first nine balls put the Bears in a pit (FFS). Sam Hain held it together a bit with 59 off 41. He was the eighth gone with just three balls left. Par score. No idea. But, you should fancy that chase.

Lyth went in the first over. But, an everyone chip in batting performance got it over the line for Yorkshire. Bairstow did the Six Clubbing routine. Crikey he puts some power through the ball. Will Fraine put it beyond with 19 off 8 balls. Not easy. But comfortable. I'm not sure everyone on the Western Terrace cared passionately about the result. No complaints from me. That's not what they'd come for.

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SUFC are past tense

Sheffield United 2 v Blackburn Rovers 1
EFL League Cup
Tuesday 27 August 2019

Yorkshire Vikings 187 for 7
beat
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 107 all out (18 overs)
by 80 runs
T20 Blast, North Group
Thursday 29 August 2019
Played at Headingley

Chelsea 2 v Sheffield United 2
Premier League
Saturday 31 August 2019

SUFC 2019/20 Games 16 & 17

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I was a bit introspective during the Chelsea game. Like many others, it looked to me like Lys Mousset had knocked in the equaliser on 89 minutes. Later credited as an O.G. Obviously, we can press on, caution to the wind, for the injury time winner. Obviously, we can game manage the clock down & see the point out. But, you know what. I'd have been broadly OK if Chelsea had got the winner. Analysing that. It's because I feel the first rung is to be competitive. To live with teams. Not just the Big Six or the Small Thirteen. All of them, the Premier League teams. Get beat one nil, but compete. Get beat two one having competed. At half time, two nil down, standing off, conceding space. You wonder - can we be competitive. Whereas, at 90, two each. We're past tense. We have competed.

Coming back to that Mousset "goal". He's not quite up to speed yet is he? A whipped in cross from his twin strike partner out wide. Ask yourself - what's the first thing Lys should be thinking? Get on the end of this one? Have a nudge at my marker? No Fam. This is Sheffield United. His first thought, on the edge of the six yard box, should be - which one of my Centre Backs is with me and is he in a better scoring position. Oh yeah - John Egan - up there, fucking competing.

A good bunch of my mates are Chelsea. Old Skool. So, the Carrier Bag Firm have a bit of a free pass in the pubs down that way. I was very happy to press the flesh, pat the backs & do the smiling pre match. But, there wasn't going to be much going on Beer Adventure wise. A compromise drink. A much tighter joint utility firm after. No compromise. We celebrated the competitive two all with an IPA Frenzy.

Ghost Whale is a lovely single room, shop front affair not far from East Putney tube station, on Richmond Road. They've also got an outlet in Brixton. Sofas, stools & a welcoming central table running down the middle. Bottle & can fridges lining the walls. A keg wall at the back. Six on. The tale of the tape was;

Wylam Jakehead on keg at 6.3%
North Brewing Co. Paria IPA 3.0 in a tin at 6%
Vibrant Forest, Kaleidoscope in a tin at 6.2%
Brew York, X-Parrot Tropical IPA in a tin at 6.5%
Polly's Brew Co Citra Ekuanot India Pale Ale in a tin at 7%
Wylam Currency Of The People in a tin at 8.2%

And a non-IPA
Laughing Monk Brewery, Strawberry Pulpit (Belgian Blonde) on keg at 6%

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Ball Sup Design Faults

Australia 179 all out
v England 67 all out
Australia 171 for 6
Close on Day 2

Thursday/Friday 22/23 August 2019
3rd Test
Played at Headingley

Sheffield United 1 v Leicester City 2
Premier League
Saturday 24 August 2019

Notts Outlaws 148 for 7
beat
Yorkshire Vikings 145 for 7
by 3 runs
Vitality Blast T20, North Group
Sunday 25 August 2019
Played at Trent Bridge

SUFC 2019/20 Game 14

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Are you familiar with the concept of introspection. Because, this is a Blog about Blogging. Actually, in the future, when I Blog about the importance of occasionally Blogging about Blogging, I predict I'll win a Blogging Award. But, today. I. Have. Dodged. A. Blogging. Bullet.

You set out with the best intentions. You try your hardest. Immediacy is the thing. See it. Log it. Blog it. But, I've got a number of Design Faults. Firstly, I go to a football/cricket match. I form views. I wangle out whimsies. Then just as I'm about to write them up. Booooom. I'm into the 7.2% New England IPA. Essentially, I haven't thought this through. Secondly, I'm a good biter. But, a poor chewer. I'm in the middle of six games in six days. Truly, I ain't finding the time to Blog Immediacy.

However, I've Silver Lined. I could have written a Blog a few days ago. After I'd seen a dismal, which end do you hold the bat, sixty fucking seven all out, display by Joe Root's England. Here's the carefully crafted whimsy. Move your feet. Don't play away from your body. Play straight. Show the bowler the Maker's Name on your bat. But, the Bat Maker's Name appears to be - NICK OFF. Anyway, that innings was Shit. But, not the time. I've had enough people riding a Coach & Horses through this Blog. Must admit, I didn't expect Ben Stokes though.

While we're cricket related. Yorkshire failed to get that T20 over the line. And, in T20, that's the idea. Yorkshire got it down to 18 off the last two overs. With Leaning & Fraine batting. The trick here is to whack a big dent in that before it gets to the last over. They didn't. Scoring only six. And losing two. Leaving 12 off the last. With Fraine on strike. He clubs a six off the first. Leaving six off five. You've got to get it home from there. They didn't. Fraine went. And Thompson dotted three out of four.

Anyway. Just to prove it's not been a completely wasted five days;

Verdant Brewing Co, Light Bulb, New England Pale Ale on keg at 4.5%
Bone Machine Brew Co, Ægisdrekka, Session IPA on keg at 3.6%
Shindigger Brewing Co, West Coast Pale on keg at 4.5%
Old Nation Brewing Co, B-43, Brut IPA on keg at 7%
Old Nation Brewing Co, M-43, NE IPA on keg at 6.8%
BrewDog Overworks, Funk X Punk, IPA Sour on keg at 5.5%
Abbeydale, Voyager IPA #17, Citra, Cascade, Centennial on cask at 5.6%

Abbeydale & NoDa Brewing Co, Greetings From Charlotte, American IPA on keg at 6.2%
Cloudwater, West Coast Pale on keg at 5%
Wylam & Whiplash, Do You Want To Touch Me, Double IPA on keg at 8.3%
Neon Raptor, Hippo Launcher, Double IPA on keg at 8%
Neon Raptor, Talons, Czech Pilsner, from at tin at 5.6%

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I have now Blogged from 837 games in 1,832 days

View from the Abu Dhabi stands

Boost Defenders 205-5
beat Auckland Aces 170-5
by 35 runs

Yorkshire Vikings 184-5
lost to Lahore Qalandars 189-4
by 6 wickets
Thursday 4 October 2018

Lahore Qalandars 181-6
beat Hobart Hurricanes 146-8
by 35 runs
Friday 5 October 2018

Hobart Hurricanes 140-7
lost to Yorkshire Vikings 145-1
by 9 wickets
Saturday 6 October 2018

Abu Dhabi T20

A version of this Blog was published on the Cricket Yorkshire Website at

www.cricketyorkshire.com/yorkshire-vikings-abu-dhabi-t20/

In case you missed it, Yorkshire's quest for World domination ended in the heat of Abu Dhabi on the morning of Saturday 6 October. Of course, there is no reason why you should have missed it. The games were broadcast on live Free To Air TV in the UK. Indeed, I am sure the future of this tournament will stand or fall on those TV viewing figures. Or more accurately, on the TV viewing figures in other countries.

Six T20 teams. Playing two games each. Over three days. With a final. To be crowned World Champions (ish). It's a big ish. No Indian Premier League team here. Nor Caribbean Premier League. One of the competing teams is a very modern franchise. In that you can't tell where they're from by their name. Who comes up with this nonsense? The Multiply Titans are a South African franchise based in Benoni & Centurion (Pretoria). Teams from Auckland, Hobart, Lahore & the Boost Region of Afghanistan made up the six (along with “The Vikings”)

Yorkshire made 184 for 5 in their first game. That was chased down with two balls to spare by Lahore Qalandars with just four wickets down. Despite that, Yorkshire went out with a bang in the wooden spoon decider. Restricting the Hobart Hurricanes to 140 for 7. Busting through that with only Adam Lyth gone & with over 7 overs to spare. But, forgive me, this is not a detailed cricket report. On to the good stuff. Oh yes. There was Beer. I'm a Beer Blogger after all. OK, the choice was limited. Heineken or nowt. A few Yorkshire Tourists and Australian ex pats tucking in. I noticed that on Day 3, the transparent plastic glasses had been replaced by blue plastic. Those are more local culture sensitive, as you can't tell by looking whether you're shifting lager or orange pop.

Yes Phil, but was it a success? Well, here's the Metrics.

Critical Success Metric 1
When I walked into the South Panoramic Stand as the Toss went up for the Auckland v Boost game, I was the 13th person in. A minimum of ten others were Yorkshire supporters. For a game we weren't even playing in. Salute.

Critical Success Metric 2
As the first ball was slung down, I counted 15 bona fide supporters in the stand, 3 security & 6 TV cameramen & technicians. Three fellas were picking litter on the East Bank. Not good.

Critical Success Metric 3
After just 15 Overs of the second game, the one Yorkshire were in, the Ice Cream Van switched the jingle off, put the hundreds n thousands away, turned tail & left the ground. With 25 overs still to go. Says it all really.

Despite the lack of 99s, the atmosphere did pick up for the Yorkshire game v the Lahore Qalandars. I've been privileged to see a number of games involving Pakistan in the UAE over the years. The Pakistani fans are a joy to be with. They're Cricket Celebrity conscious. Waving at Ex Yorkie Inzamam Ul Haq & Shoaib Akhtar as they glad handed. Shouting at Brian Charles Lara & Mahela Jayawardena as they tried to conduct interviews. They love the old DJ & the music. Dancing away like I did at my Wedding. And, they are very very knowledgeable. Friendly an’ all. I love every single one of 'em.

In the modern cricket world, the finances of this tournament will, no doubt, be complex. UAE Government money, sponsorship money, TV rights money. But, let's have it right, they ain't made a bundle at the gate. And the Ice Cream Man wants a refund on the concession fee he's stumped up. The number of people working at the ground easily outnumbered the paying punters at times. Security, ticket scanners, stop you blagging into the wrong stand officials, water & crisp hawkers, TV techies, litter pickers, toilet attendants. The lot. The desk the DJ had looked like it had been hired from NASA. They'd rigged up coloured spotlights for a sort of lightshow on the roof.

Naturally, they'd chucked all the budget at such peripheral capers. Ignored the basics. Naturally. That came home to roost in Yorkshire's game. Adam Lyth attempted one of those catch it, throw it up as you step over the rope, catch it back in play fandangos. The middle Umps asked for the Third Ump to have a gander. Then. Perfect storm system failure. Seemed to be no way of putting the Red/Green Out/Not Out info on the screen. Seemed to be no way of firing the Walkie Talkie up. The Fourth Ump seemed to be in the loop. He was signalling Six, in the accepted way. While the middle Umps were using new, impromptu & innovative what the hell is happening signals.

In the end, Not Out. No worries. It's over the far side. I can't see. But, organisers of tournaments like this must learn. The shouts I could hear included;
“you can't change your mind”
“you're an absolute disgrace”
“rubbish” “FIX”

All because they didn't look after the Cricket Basics. Never mind eh. At least matey can blast The Proclaimers over the PA. Let me recover. I'm quite benign. It's a great concept. Gather teams together. At a time which least impacts on domestic seasons. Make sure you've got a Pakistan Super League franchise. Sell the TV rights. Have some discreet Beer. I've seen Yorkshire v Lahore. I've seen Yorkshire v Hobart. Amongst some knowledgeable and appreciative fans. Not many of them mind. Yorkshire adapted well. Lyth, Poysden & Carver spinning to restrict Hobart. Coad bowling well. And Kohler-Cadmore and Brook putting the chase on. Next year. Same time. Same place.

727/1509

Bounce & Cramped

Yorkshire Vikings 200-3
beat
Durham Jets 156-4
by 44 runs

T20 Blast

Played at Headingley

Thursday 5 July 2018

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You'd have to go a long way to find a lazy afternoon drinking boozer that is better than The Cardigan Arms. Nice & quiet. People in of course, just being quiet. Great beer range. Cask & Keg. Dominated by (their own) Kirkstall Brewery, but with some nice British & International guests.

As well as North of 8% kegged Double IPAs, I'm becoming a sucker for North of 6% cask NEs or West Coast IPAs. You don't see them very often & I think the brewers just put a bit more care, and a little less Instagram in them. Yesterday (not a ball occasion) I had Thornbridge Hacksaw, New England IPA on cask. Only 5% that one. But, fresh, bright, hop forward & not juiced to del Monte. Superb.

Toss up between that 'un & today's North Brewing Co. Transmission, West Coast IPA at 6.9%. That was superb. It just seemed in sync & balanced. Very rich. How do you describe richness? It was - rich. Sugar sweetness in the background. You can't say what it is. You don't really notice it. Until you realise it sets up the richness - so that the hop bitterness just keeps coming at you. Good beers don't taste of their ingredients - that's the key.

Great win for Yorkshire that. Best to start at the end. Jack Brooks three for 21. Patto one for 26. None of them have gone for 40. I don't know what they're doing, but they're doing it well. The best I've got is that they were getting a bit of bounce & cramping batsmen up. Not much in the slot to go Downtown. Backed up by perfect, he's hit it straight at him field placings. Have a look. Durham have only lost 4 wickets. Stokes was not out 90 at the death. But, the bowlers made sure they could never get it going. Stokes has done 90 off 68. Lyth has done 92 off 54. Tape tells tale.

678/1416

Publicity v No Publicity

Yorkshire Vikings XI 165-8
lost to
Yorkshire League South XI 167-3
by 7 wickets (2 and a bit over left)

T20 Warm Up

Played at Abbeydale Park, Sheffield

Monday 2 July 2018

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Part of me thinks that was an opportunity lost. But, in reality - it was nowt.  I’m pretty sure that Yorkshire are on a mini tour around the ex-outgrounds in preparation for T20 Blast. I heard rumours of Harrogate & Middlesbrough. In one sense, that’s a perfect opportunity to large it up, call it a Roadshow, call it taking Cricket Around The Shires, press some flesh.  There was no pre-publicity on the Yorkshire Website nor Social Media. (a little from Sheffield Collegiate & the League themselves). I prodded YCCC about lack on information. I’m not saying that had any impact. But, they did send a tweet out about the game during the morning. You know, if you could plough through all the - buy tickets for Not-Yorkshire Games - oh, how funny Pujara is called Steve - here’s Jim from Wetherby on his holidays with a funny hat - some game stealing Sponsor is now on board - drivel.

But then, essentially there were precious few Vikings Blast XI contenders on show. Gale was there. And OK, I’m not picking the side, he is. And, by the time I’ve written this, the squad containing Rafiq & Shaw has been announced.  Other opportunities lost included no PA, no rudimentary scorecards run off the photocopier, no whiteboard with the teams felt tipped on, information - of which NONE. OK. OK. That’s OK - it’s difficult for a club like Collegiate to get that sorted - they don’t do it for League games. So, maybe there was a new overseas or Kolpak signing lurking without a number on his back (there wasn’t….).

Unfortunately, I’m not Second XI nor Academy savvy. So, the only plausible recognitions I have were;

Rafiq, Waite, Warner & Shaw

Rafiq captained (by the look of it - remember lack of info). I love the bloke. But, he looked a bit ratty at times in the field (as the game got away from them).

Waite top scored with some nice clean hitting for 58. He batted at three & went at 133 for 5. It didn’t look too bad a batting performance. 30 for 2 - 78 for 4 - 156 for 7. But, nothing special. A few biffed sixes - but it didn’t feel like they were banging it for fours all the time. So, it felt a little underpowered. Too many of the late middle & tail were trying to manufacture shots - ramps, flicks, reverses - that sort of caper.

In the early overs of the reply, the League Select XI were mistiming a few shots. So, I recalibrated - maybe it was a decent score after all. But, hey, they got going. And some. They were 102 for none before the end of the 10th. The first wicket went at 115. I’m pretty sure that was Tom Rowley, Collegiate’s overseas Aussie, who went for 65. From there - only 50 needed - you can manage & cruise a bit & they did. They got it over the line with two plus overs left.

In summary - no publicity - but that might not be a bad thing - as few to no First Teamers - but why so few First Teamers - why warm up players who haven’t really got a chance? Baffling sometimes - still I hear from the YCCC Twitter that there are still some hospitality places available at England Women v New Zealand. Whoopy & indeed Doo.

The guys at Kickov have however grabbed an opportunity. They’ve taken over the Abbeydale Cinema & the yard. Put some impromptus in - bar - grub - deckchairs. And, they’re showing football World Cup games on the cinema screen (and on other screens here & there). Before the games began, they’d asked for Social Media promotion to help get the word out - so, I had been granted a FREE BEER. Which I piled into Natch.

and Union, Sunday Easy Pale Ale from a tin at 5.5%. That’s OK. It pulled up a bit too sweet for my own taste. It had a nice zingy thing going through it. And the flavour lasted. Very easy drinking. As on Tin.

So, to recap - I got a free beer because I had given an event “some publicity”. And then went to a no publicity damp squib.

677/1413

Out in a Crisis

Hampshire 348 for 9
beat Yorkshire Vikings 241 all out
by 107 runs

One Day Cup Semi Final

Played at Southampton

Monday 18 June 2018

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And another YCCC Lord's Final dream lies in tatters. On the day, Yorkshire were outplayed, outgunned. James Vince faced over 40% of the balls bowled at Hampshire. He came in at 76 for two. He was out in the 46th at 313 for 6. With 171.

If someone scores like that, someone has to do something similar in the chase. Or at least two have to go big. Or you're outgunned. We were. Six Sixes were pummeled in the Hampshire innings. None by the Yorkies. Yorkshire hit 19 fours. Vince hit 20 fours.

Steyn & Chris Wood kept it very tight up top. Got us at 73 for four in the 16th.

Look. I'll take all the England stealing our players bollocks. But, Lyth, Ballance, Pujara, Kohler-Cadmore. They're all gone. With just 73 on. If you look at the sides put out. We're a batting side. And, they have to click. Or you're gone. We gone.

County Cricket is mad, getting madder. No money in it. So it has to rely on financial cross pollination from the International Game (plus others). That means England Stalwarts are pulled. But, England are pony in Red Ball & want to win White Ball Cups. So, up n comers are pulled for the Lions. Everyone is desperate to do something, anything for Test Cricket. So, there's mad games, out of schedule, v Ireland, v Afghanistan, v etc. So, Overseas Pros are pulled in out & shaking it all about. If the IPL come calling - you guessed it - Pulled. There are excuses. But, come at it from the other direction. List them. That looks like a Club In Crisis.

Rashid turns his back on the Red Ball
Plunkett & Willey get late IPL calls
Billy Stanlake is pulled by Australia
Pujara pisses off to play Afghanistan
Williamson is coming then, no then, no wait
Ballance is having a rest
New Captain Patto mid season
Denison fined & banned
Ou est Rafiq

There's a lot going on mate.

673/1399

Bowl Straight

Yorkshire Vikings 259 for 7
beat Essex Eagles 234 all out
by 25 runs

One Day Cup Quarter Final

Played at Chelmsford

Thursday 14 June 2018

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There was a lot going on in that game. England white ball ODIs, India Test v Afghanistan & suspensions for ill discipline had deprived both teams of key players. It looked to me like the pitch kept low & there was little carry. That said, before the off, on paper, you'd have said Yorkshire were going to rely on a still powerful top & middle to power to a score. And the bowlers defend it.

Well, that didn't go exactly to script. Kohler-Cadmore & Brook gone at 5 for 2 inside two overs. Lyth & Tattersall both went with the score on 45 in the 11th over. But, there's power, experience & nouse. Ballance & Leaning rebuilt & put on 129. Leaning was out at a still barely defensible 188-6 in the 42nd. The final 49 balls brought 71 from Bressy & The Fish (259).

And, then, FFS, back to Plan A. Who knew? Bowl straight. Energy in the field. Chase owt. That just might work?

Just 26 runs inside 8 overs, when Cook went for a ridiculous heave & indeed a ho. Patto was under it for an age before the snaffle. With around half the overs gone, Bopara went at 89 for 5. Fisher bowled 9.1, the others the full ten.
Fisher 32
Patterson 36
Bresnan 47
Coad 50
Carver 65

Lyth dropped an easy round the corner paddle to deny Captain Patterson a five for. Simple, energetic & consummate bowling performance. It did ebb a bit. A bit of rebuild, some biff. But, Essex looked behind it for a long period.

I headed for one Chelmsford bar. It looked closed (noon). Fucking Amateurs. I saw another one across the street. It looked closed (noon:01). It weren't. The wonderful Hop Beer Shop. One room shop front. Some shelves. Some bottles. The cask, gravity, in a little windowed chiller room off to the side, nominally four on.

Wibblers Brewery, Triple NNN on gravity at 4.6%. Very fruity up top. Apricot maybe. The bittering comes in fast. Pumpclip has it Dry Hopped. Lots of flavour. Keeps coming at you.

672/1395

10 from The Big Hitters

Northamptonshire Steelbacks 161-8
beat Nottinghamshire Outlaws 153-9
by 8 runs

Durham Jets 156-6
beat Yorkshire Vikings 149-9
by 7 runs

Saturday 20 August 2016

T20 Blast Finals Day

Played at Edgbaston

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie Gunslinger Gauge - steady at TWO. Ballance & Willey.

Sighs. Dry day.  Which allows me to deal with the main issue. It's successful. They won't change it. But, I don't know how we got here. T20 is a great low attention span game. Set up as high intensity, compressed sport at it's best. Yet, on showcase day, we play three games. 120 overs of the stuff. Longest day in cricket. For the bish bash bosh. I don't get it.

Anyway, early start, rain around, schedule subject to change, may even spill into a Reserve Day. I didn't know whether I was coming home or looking for a hotel. Big crowd. The New Fans aplenty. I walked past some fella who was excited because beer was being served in different plastic glasses to his previous pint. Beer Snakes easier with the new ones. Won't knock it. Not my scene. Not my drinking environment of choice. Dry day.

There is still a deal of debate about the future of ECB T20. City Based Franchises. We already have them. A common central brand, franchised to local dealerships, a lot of which are in cities. Call it what it is. The leaked proposal amounts to fewer teams & new names.

I've blown cold & hot. Finals Day has just hardened my views. We need each team to play fewer games. Make the games matter. Fourteen games per team. To whittle down to the last eight is far too many. That's madness. No sense of event or occasion. Too many games per night. No focus. It's that sense of event, of every game counts, which is central to the success of Big Bash in Australia.

We've got 18 Counties. With Northants & Durham in this year's Final. The best way to have fewer games is a full two Division meritocracy. Nine teams per Division. Eight games per County. I'd go to Semi Finals. Followed at a different time by a full on Final. There'd need to be a play off system for promotion & relegation.

I'd just about slide to an unbalanced nine games per County. To preserve existing home & away big games like Lancashire v Yorkshire and Middlesex v Surrey. But, if they're in different divisions of the meritocracy. So be it. Their big games will have to be against someone else.

The England Boys back for Yorkshire today. Back from choreographed International Cricket. Into they're all trying, some tough characters, Big Boys Cricket. Shell Shocked. Lo, it came to pass.

Root 7, Bairstow 3, Ballance quacking. That won't do. Switch on.

Yorkshire had to take a recognised Batsman deep into the chase. Leaning was out 35 short of the target at 122-7 off 17.2. That left Bresnan, Plunkett, Rashid & Rafiq too much to do. After just 10 combined from the Big Hitters. Won't do it. Didn't.

353/760

Kent Stylee Micropub

Yorkshire Vikings 256-9
beat Kent Spitfires 245 all,out
by 11 runs

Thursday 18 August 2016

Royal London One-Day Cup, Quarter Final

Played at Canterbury

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Gillespie Gunslinger Gauge - drops to an incredible just TWO. Ballance & Willey.

The Overseas has gone, the new Overseas can’t play in this one. The England Lads are back for Big Boys Cricket.

A big nod to The Thomas Tallis Alehouse on Northgate in Canterbury. The vagaries of 2pm starts & last trains back to London meant that I couldn’t do it justice. One of those Kent Stylee micropubs. No discernible bar. Everything chalked up on a board. Nice young man wandering about. Takes your order. Gets the comestibles. Brings it. Takes your money.

To be honest, I was too busy trying to drink it to take much notice of my surroundings. I was also dealing with a Deaf Dog. But, a very welcoming place. Recommended. Shortish cask list. Maybe only 2 on. And maybe a dozen craft kegs. Beavertown, The Kernel, Thornbridge, that sort of thing.

I went LocKeg. Old Dairy, Gold Top (see what they’ve done there) on keg at 4,3%.

The beer set up in the Canterbury Members Bar is OK. Shepherd Neame are the pouring partners. A neat selection of their keg stout & lager. And two handpulls. I went Shepherd Neame, Master Brew on cask at a drinkable 3.7%. I don’t think they make the best of the physical set up in that bar. It can often be difficult/impossible to see play as the sightscreens have to be in front of the large windows. But, the seating arrangements are palatial but odd. All you’ve got is large, low, sink into ‘em sofas. I mean Man Eating Sofas. From which you can barely reach the coffee tables to whack your drinks on. Comfortable mind….

It felt like a Get Out Of Jail day. A great platform 117 for one going into the 23rd over. Lyth had smote some boundaries during the two out PowerPlay. But, we got bogged down. Their spinners dried us up a bit. Only a bit of bosh from Rash at the end got us past 250. It felt like we were short of where we might have been.

Then. At 66-4 in the 17th we looked well on top. Rafiq went for 8 an over. And, they clawed back. Credit to Lees. (And I suspect The Brains Trust). As he went back to frontline seamers to gain control & try to take wickets. Their ninth went down at 241. Having added 29. To be honest, if Willey hadn’t nailed Tredwell, Kent might have got it over the line. We were patient. No real panic, even when chips were down. It’s in the papers. Got it done.

352/758

Pub gone

Yorkshire Vikings 376-3
beat Leicestershire Foxes 185 all out
by 191 runs

Sunday 24 July 2016

Royal London One-Day Cup, North Group

Played at Grace Road, Leicester

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge - steady at THREE. Head, Willey & Hodd.

It seems that The Pub is no more. I’m not sure what has happened there. Because of that comprehensive tonking by Yorkshire, we had time for a drink we didn’t expect. We hared off to The Pub, to find it completely shut.  The advantage is that you can get in the back door of The King’s Head more-or-less directly opposite. Which we did. A great range of maybe 10 handpulls. And two craft keg if you looked at the blackboard rather than the kegs.

I went Black Country, Chain Ale on cask at 4.2%. A lovely refreshing session Gold with a neat floral bitter kick.

A poor offering in the ground. The Rules & Regs say you can’t take alcohol in. They don’t check at the gate. But, some of the stewards keep an eye out for mass consumption of Stella cans. There is always a discreet way. But, otherwise, poor. Nothing on cask in The Meet. And, just a lone handpull of Marston’s EPA at 3.6%. Recovering, I basically don’t mind that. If it has to be one, it has to be. So, uninspiring, rather than poor.

In anyone’s language, that is a Tonking. Big, much better than a run a ball tons for Leaning & Head. I honestly thought 200 for Head & 400 was possible at one stage. Leaning is beginning to fire. He is a powerful bloke. When he hits a Six, it’s gone. Five in this effort. Head hit 18 fours. Only five batsmen came to the crease. That tells the tale.

Comprehensive Tonking.

337/732

If it comes off, you win

Yorkshire Vikings 223-6
beat Durham Jets 174-8
by 49 runs

Wednesday 20 July 2016

T20 Blast North Group

Played at Headingley

Twitter @ball_sup

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge - steady at THREE. Willey, Head, Hodd.

Pre match drink in the reliably superb Arcadia. On Roosters/Bronx Brewery, Ida Rivera’s Mulitcultural IPA on keg at 6.5%.

A serious beer that. (At a serious price). Tan brown in the glass. Powerful sweet smell. Like putting your head into a jar of boiled sweets. Very sweet in the mouth at first. But, pleasantly so. Very quickly gives way as a swirling bitterness grabs you.

There's a fruitiness I can't place. Maybe some orange. The barman is saying Tea involved.

I'm living proof that you can just about do T20 under lights at Headingley from Sheffield on the train. The Sky TV 6:30 starts have a nominal finish time of 2115. That gives you plenty of time for the 2237 Leeds/Sheffield Rattler. To get back just after midnight. Not for the faint hearted though.

Friday nights. 7pm starts. Bigger crowds. Weekend drinkers. That's a whole different group of Lads with cans of Stella on the train situation mind.

Anyway. I even had time for a post match celebratory bevvy. In the I'd forgotten just how great a range of beer they have Tapped Leeds. I had a lovely swill of Sierra Nevada, 11.5 Plato on keg at 4.5%. No tasting notes. Sorry, I had to be on the 2237.

Man Crush Klaxon. First time I've seen the back from the wilderness Azeem Rafiq. Welcome home Son. One of my favourite cricketers. Since Chelmsford. Single handed. Hope it works out.

Didn't bat. Four overs. Two for 27. Took a catch off Willey. In the game. Natch.

Look, you're gonna win T20 games if you play like that. It's an if it comes off game. Lyth came off. You've got to pepper the ropes in the first few overs. Lyth (87 off 54) & Willey (32 off 14) did. That allows cameos. Leaning 32 off 11. Head 34 off 24.

And then the immense scoreboard pressure means a Bowler might come off. Plunkett one for 13 off his four. Ridiculous. He took a great tumbling catch off Rafiq as well.

334/729

Get It Biffed

Yorkshire Vikings 170 all out
lost to Worcestershire Rapids 171-3
by 7 wickets

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Royal London One Day (50 Over) Cup

Played at Headingley

Gillespie/Gale Gunslinger Gauge steady at THREE. Ballance, Hodd, Willey.

Well. That doesn't look good from any angle. Yorkshire used up 45 overs for that 170. The Pears got to the target in 25 and bits. You'll never know what is chicken, what egg. Did Worcestershire bowl exceptionally well to restrict. And then knew they could come out & play shots?. Maybe not.

Look the new fangled powerplay has two men out in the first 10 overs. If you're struggling. Go back to simple strategies. You've got to Biff It in those first ten. Look where the two are. Hit it where they're not.

Forget platforms. Forget notional targets. Get it Biffed. Of course, it was easy for Worcestershire to do that. With such a small target. We were punching it to Mid On for a Dot. They were hitting it high, hard & straight. Six if you catch it right. Four if not. Watching them, it just didn't look like a risky shot. Only two out of the circle remember.

In the Championship, we've got time, overs, innings to recover. In White Ball we ain't. It looks hapless, scratchy, no rudder.

Start with the first Ten. Get it biffed. If these players won't. Juggle and Ship.

Roosters, The Red Baron at 5.7% from a can. Sourced from Beer Central in The Moor Market, Sheffield. Gentle reddish brown colour. Looks very appealing. Although the head died a little quickly.

Deep & rich in the mouth. Lots of orange & marmalade coming through in both the smell & the taste. Particularly zesty orange in the smell. Very refreshing to drink. Dries the palate slightly. Bitterness grows & holds - but doesn't overpower. Superb beer.

325/686

Power, Innovation, TICKER

Lancashire Lightning 145-7 beat
United Arab Emirates 144-7
by 1 run

Yorkshire Vikings 155-5 beat
MCC 142-8
by 13 runs

Yorkshire Vikings 132-8 beat
Lancashire Lightning 119-9
by 13 runs

Yorkshire win (& retain) The Emirates T20 Trophy

Played at Dubai Sevens Oval

Friday 18 March 2016

Dry Day

Twitter @ball_sup

The Game evolves. I'm revising my opinion about T20. I was historically & naturally against manufactured shots. Ramps, scoops, reverses, etc. But, not now.

I think there are very few pure power hitters. Chris Gayle, McCullum, etc. Plant your feet. Keep your head still. See ball. Hit ball. Timing. Bat speed. If you've got it, use it.

Pietersen used to frustrate me. So good & powerful straight in The V. Put it there mate. Stop manufacturing.

But, I'll now say, if you're not pure power. And, if you're a good manufacturer. Crack on. I'm quite enjoying the cat & mouse. He can't have fielders everywhere. Look where he's struggling. Manufacture the shot there.

The fielding side can try sneak ins. An early over from the part time spinner. So, the batting side must. If needs. Manufacture early. I'll admit to being a trifle influenced by England's superb 230 odd run chase against The Saffers in the World T20.

When faced with mammoth score. Organise chase. Power from the off if you've got it. Manufacture from the off if you need to. Get ‘em ragged. Run ‘em ragged.

Power. Innovation. Ticker.

I thought the Vikings got over both lines there with character, heart, Ticker. In both games, at times, I thought “they've lost this”. But, they hadn't.

It's not really stay patient. It's more don't get demoralised. The bowlers are going to get some Tap. Some batsmen are going to get out quickly.

It's not stay in the game. There are only 120 balls FFS. You're already in the game. Don't put yourself out of it. Ticker.

MCC have gone from 70-1 after 7.3 to 87-6 after 10.5. Five wickets in 20 balls. The first 3 to Karl Carver. Then 2 in 2 caught Hodd, bowled Rhodes.

Against the Lankies, Carver has taken 2 in one over. Lyth bowled one over against MCC. Bazoomed for 21. Lees brought him on against the Lankies. A maiden. Ticker.

Disciplined bowling looks different in T20. You'll get some tap somewhere. But, that was disciplined bowling by the Young Yorkies. Salute.

But, we need some batting Gunslinger to provide power. We'll not see anything of Root. Little of Bairstow. Willey, Head - it'll be over to you.

291/605

Excellent Sightscreen work by Lees

Yorkshire 135-9
lost to Leicestershire 141-5 (19.2 overs) by 5 wickets

T20 Friendly
Played at Dubai Sevens Oval, Dubai

Thursday 17 March 2016

Dry Day

Twitter @ball_sup

Well. Yorkshire certainly played a young, inexperienced side. Wainman, Waite & Coad were all out there. As was Carver. Ignorance on my part. And lack of scorecard/scoreboard. Means I am not really sure of the strength of the Leicestershire team.

They've not exactly won it at a canter. But, they've won it standing up. Who knows? Only one six in Yorkshire’s innings has left me wondering whether they'd got enough. And 135 doesn't sound many. Yorkshire scored 159 & 176 in the Emirates main event T20 last year.

Ballance the pick of the batsmen with 38. None of the bowlers really stood out. White Ball Captain Alex Lees opened the bowling with Wainman. Having helped Wainman set his field, Lees then trots off to push the sightscreen into position.

At one point, a car drives in front of the Pavilion. Parking momentarily in front of the Yorkshire Benches. Welcome To Dubai.

Hoping for better in the Main Event

290/604

Plunkett, Serious Wheels

Yorkshire Vikings 252-9
beat Essex Eagles 232 all out (47.5 overs)
by 20 runs

Thursday 26 August 2015

Royal London One Day Cup
Chelmsford

Twitter @ball_sup

An old haunt. The Ale House. In the railway arches under Chelmsford station. I love this place. Marvin the Innovator on the sounds. Move On Up. (at 1125am). 12 on cask. One pukka keg. A few Germans on keg. Spoilt for choice.

Hopcraft, The Party Line on cask at 5.1%. Tastes great first up. Slightly too warm. Suspect not pulled through.  Very pale in the glass. Some apple in the taste. Gentle bittering. But, that grows a bit. Gets to all your tastebuds.

By The Horns, Stiff Upper Lip on cask at 3.8%. Perfectly OK. But it felt a bit identikit golden ale. Nothing there for us Bitter Bullies. Nice sugar on the lips without dominating.

A reasonable set up in the Members Bar, They had; Shepherd Neame, Master Brew, Kentish Ale 3.7%, Shepherd Neame, Spitfire 4.2%, The Faversham Steam Brewery, Pale Ale 3.9%. And some Whitstable Bay kegs. It got a bit tasty in that little section of benches in front of the bar and below the Player’s Balcony. Over to my right, two small groups of blokes had a little “leave it he’s not worth it” standoff. Quite sedate.

You’ve got a small ground, and a reasonably large crowd. The geography means people can’t/won’t stand in front of the windows. So, they push ever further to the left. Hard up against the path on which the players enter & leave the field & right under the Essex bit of the Balcony. Inevitably, it becomes a bar overspill, drinkers area. Unfortunately, as Essex fall away towards the end, some people vent their fury on batsmen returning to the Pavilion & the players & staff above them. Of course, in turn, they feel it necessary to lean over the Balcony, stare & even exchange words with Paying Punter. Never gonna end well that.

Fan Boy Me went over there at the end to shout “well played Liam, superb” as they came off. Not to cause trouble you understand. Just because Liam played well & was superb.

Enjoyed that. Never enough runs for the Vikings. Too many players out to steepling catches. Not a percentage shot that. Lusty, but sensible hitting at the end from Plunkett. The Fish also played his part. Staying there, helping with getting the strike at the right end. So, that’s at least got ‘em something to go at. And, they went at it. Wickets were always going to be important. So, they attacked a bit. And they kept the foot on. Longs spells to take the game deep.

Both teams were in control at different times. Essex were 95-2 at one stage. And 206-6 around 42 overs. But, once Foster & ten Doeschate had gone, they didn’t have much hutch left.  There were only two wides in the match & no No Balls. Serious discipline that from both teams. I was very pleased at the end.

193/401

Get Lucky

Yorkshire Vikings 277-9
beat Leicestershire Foxes 246 all out off 49.5 overs
by 31 runs

Royal London One Day Cup
at Headingley

Monday 3 August 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

You make your own Luck in this game. But, I got lucky there. After a nice neat competent victory by Yorkshire, I headed to The North Bar in Leeds. I think it’s great in there. It turned out there had been a recent Tap Takeover by Firestone Walker Brewing Company from Paso Robles in California. So, the remnants of that were still on the Keg lines. Lucky break.

Firestone Walker, Pale 31 on keg at 4.9%. And, the absolutely mental Firestone Walker, Wookey Jack on keg at 8.3%. They bill it as a Black Rye IPA. I don’t know. Just the combination of flavours & high abv. I felt my head was spinning from the taster onwards. It was a serious beer. I’m a self-confessed HopHead. So, it didn’t knock me out in that way. Indeed, if anything I’d say it was underhopped for a Black IPA. Those sweet red fruit tones you get from the Rye malt were in there. That beefs up the richness. The abv hit was not the burning back of throat thing. Chewy, zingy, refreshing. A lot to recommend it.

A bit above par for the games I’ve seen recently (239, 265, 260). But, within that range where teams are slightly disappointed nowadays. Teams looking to push on towards 300 now. They lost the second wicket at 129 and the third at 198. It looked like they’d go higher at one stage.  But, most teams are capable of putting the brakes on at some point. Taking wickets does that.

Talking of making your own luck. Maxwell played a couple of very lofted legside shots. Not mishits. Not top edges. Just three-quarter shots in the air. He’s the top of what he does, but it looks a very risky shot to me. It doesn’t look like a mishit full-blood. It doesn’t look like a controlled chip. What’s he doing? Is he backing himself to get the right power on it to go over the infield? Is he backing himself to get the ball between catchers in the outfield? I suppose the point is, he’s backing himself.

The Foxes were up with it & one stage. Same point. Third wicket gone at 159. But, then they lose wickets & the brakes are on. Some long handled stuff at the end, with Yorkshire in control, meant it was not as close as 31 runs looks. Angus Robson got out in the 90s. If he’d stayed there, might have been different. Fisher just about the pick of the bowlers. They used 8 (eight). Fisher did 7 overs, 3 for 32 including two clean bowled.

181/377